Dental amalgam crucible and carrier loader

ABSTRACT

A DENTAL AMALGAM CRUCIBLE AND CARRIER LOADER IS DISCLOSED IN WHICH A GENERALLY CONICAL CUP IS PROVIDED TO HOLD THE AMALGAM IN POSITION FOR A CARRIER TO BE PUSHED INTO THE SAME AND A WELL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP RECEIVES PARTS OF THE AMALGAM AND A PLUNGER IN THE WELL EJECTS THE AMALGAM INTO THE CARRIER WHEN THE CUP IS DEPRESSED AGAINST ITS RESILIENT MOUNTING.

Jan. 12; 1971 N. P. BAKER r 3,553,838

DENTAL AMALGAM CRUCIBLE AND CARRIER LOADER med June 20, 1969 U i d States Patent 7 3,553,838 DENTAL AMALGAM CRUC IBLE AND CARRIER. LOADER NathanP. Baker, 1311 A. Quarrier St., Charleston, W. Va. 25301 Filed June 20, 1969, Ser. No. 835,140 Int. Cl. A61c 19/00 US. Cl. 32-1 AissTnAc'r OF THE DISCLOSURE hold the amalgam in position for a carrier to be pushed into the same and a well in the bottom of the cup receives parts of the amalgam and a plunger in the well ejects the 6 Claims amalgam intothe carrier when the cup is depressed against its resilient mounting.

The present invention relates tocrucibles for dental amalgam and particularly to a crucible designed to assist in consolidating dental amalgam and packing the same into a tubular carrier of the type now commonly used by dentists to deposit amalgam into a cavity in a tooth for filling the same.

block as shown, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,958,947,

in which the amalgam charge is confined so. that theopen end of a tubular carrier can be pressed against the charge in the recess and the broken particles not entering the carrier will not roll away. With this type however, the

bits of amalgam must be separately attacked with the end of the carrier and as they thus become more and more disintegrated there is no provision for reconsolidating them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It accordingly is an object of the invention to provide a dental amalgam crucible with a special tapered or conical shape wherein the charge of amalgam will gravitate to a central point at which the tubular carrier can be pressed into the charge for loading the same and at which the particles of amalgam will gravitate together for better manipulation and consolidation by the end of the carrier as the loading progresses. Further it is an object of the invention to provide means axially of or at the central point of the conical crucible in the form of a Well into which particles of the amalgam can be worked and reconsolidated, together with a plunger in the well for forcing the charge therefrom into the tubular carrier.

These objects are achieved by providing a device including a base member having an axially mounted upstanding pin or plunger and a crucible providing a conical recess terminating in a central open ended bore or well adapted to slide onto the upstanding plunger on the base and means for resiliently supporting the crucible for vertical movement so that pressure thereon will lower the same relative to the base and cause the plunger to force any material in the well above the plunger out of the same and into the end of a tubular carrier held at that point.

These and other objects of the invention and the means of achieving them will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a dental amalgam crucible embodying the invention;

'ice

FIG. 2 is a top plan viewthereof; FIG. 3 is a central vertical section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the cup in the extended position; FIG, 4 is a side elevation of a modification of the invention;

' ZFIGr. 5 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a central vertical section on the line 66 of FIG. 5; and

' FIG. 7 is a similar view of the cup depressed.

DESCRIPTION OF, THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, 10 is a base member formed of metal or other suitable material having an upstanding cylindrical post or support 11 with an axial pin or plunger 12 extending above the upper end thereof. Mounted on the base 10 is a crucible'13 formed of metal or other suitable inaterial and having a depending cylindrical skirt 14 telescoped in sliding engagement with the post portion 11 of the base 10. The crucible is formed with a conical amalgam receiving cup part 15 with an axial well or bore 16 dimensioned to have a snug sliding fit on the pin or plunger 12 of the base. The crucible is resiliently retained in an upper or elevated position by means of a coil spring 17 extending between the base and the under side of the crucible and surrounding the axial pin 12. The pin 12 and related parts are dimensioned so that with the parts at rest, the top of the pin or plunger extends into but terminates short of the upper end of axial bore 16 in the crucible as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the upper end acts as a well which combined with the conical formation of the crucible forms a receptacle into which the amalgam may be worked and consolidated as the same is loaded into the tubular nozzle indicated at 18 of the type carrier now commonly used.

When a sufficient downward pressure is exerted by the nozzle against the bottom of the crucible, the spring 17 yields and the plunger 12 feeds the amalgam in the well into the end of the carrier as the crucible is pressed downwardly on the base. Upon relief of the pressure, the spring 17 returns the crucible to its normal position and any remaining particles of amalgam can be worked down and consolidated in the well 16 with the end of the carrier and the process repeated until the carrier is completely loaded or all of the amalgam is used up.

As indicated above the invention may be embodied in various forms and be made of various suitable materials such as stainless steel or plastic which can be molded to a polished, easily cleanable surface impervious to the amalgam. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment formed of stainless steel while FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate another embodiment in which the parts are readily adapted to molding or casting from suitable plastic. In both embodiments illustrated, it will be observed that the parts are readily separable for ease of cleaning, sterilization and reassembly.

Referring further to FIGS. 4 to 7, the base 20 is a plastic molding formed with an upstanding cylindrical post or collar 21 and an axially disposed upstanding pin or plunger 22. The amalgam crucible is in the form of a molded conical cup 23 formed with a depending cylindrical skirt 24 terminating at its lower edge in an outturned annular flange 25. An axial bore or well 26 is formed in a depending neck portion 27 which slidably fits on the pin or plunger 22 fixedly carried by the base. A coil spring 28 surrounding the pin 22 and neck 27 between the base and the underside of the cup 23 resiliently retains the same in the normal raised position.

The cup 23 is retained in assembled relation with the base by a sleeve 29 removably secured to the base by spaced lugs 30 on the bottom thereof which engage in locking channels 32 through lug receiving openings 31 in the base 20 with a partial turn to lock the parts together. The upper end of the sleeve 29 is formed with an inturned annular flange 33 dimensioned to slide over the cup and engage the flange 25 thereof to hold the same in the assembled position shown in FIG. 6 and permit the cup to be depressed against the resilience of spring 28 to the depressed position shown in FIG. 7.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a simple and efficient crucible for handling and loading dental amalgam into a carrier by pressing the tubular nozzle of the carrier into a body of amalgam placed in the crucible and working any severed particles thereof down the tapered sides into the well at the bottom to reconsolidate the same and upon depression of the crucible with the end of the carrier to feed the amalgam from the well into the carrier by action of the plunger in the well.

As noted above, the parts are readily separable for cleaning, sterilization and reassembly after use.

I claim:

1. A dental amalgam crucible and carrier loader for use in combination with a carrier having a tubular end portion comprising a depressible cup member of substantially conical shape having a substantially axial bore forming a well opening into the bottom thereof whereby by manipulation of the end of the carrier particles of amalgam in the cup may be worked into the well and consolidated into a plug, and a plunger member disposed in said bore closing the lower end thereof and against which the amalgam may be consolidated, said plunger being reciprocable in said bore to expel a plug of amalgam there in into the end of a carrier pressed into the bottom of the cup upon depression of the cup member.

2. A dental amalgam crucible and carrier loader .according to claim 1 including a base member supporting the plunger member in upstanding position and wherein said cup member is mounted for vertical movement with respect to said base and said plunger is slidable in said bore when so mounted.

3. A dental amalgam crucible and carrier loader according to claim 2 in which the cup member is resiliently supported on the base in a normal position in which the plunger is disposed. below the upper end of the axial bore and the cup member is depressible to cause the plunger to expel amalgam from the bore when the cup is depressed.

4. A dental amalgam crucible and carrier loader according to claim 2, including spring means between the cup member and the base member yieldingly retaining the cup member in an elevated position with the. plunger in retracted position within the bore whereby the upper end of the bore acts as a well for reception of amalgam and the plunger ejects the amalgam from the Well when the cup member is depressed.

5. A dental amalgam crucible and carrier loader according to claim 2 in which the cup member is in telescoping relation with the base and is yieldingly mounted there- 6. A dental amalgam crucible and carrier loader according to claim 5, in which the cup member is formed with an annular flange and the base member includes a removable sleeve member having an inturned rim adapted to engage said flange to retain the cup and base is assembled relation.

References Cited Bordivene et all 222-386X ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

